Give yourself a break Mums – and you’ll move mountains

You’ve scaled the mountain of pregnancy, and you’ve been blown away at that life-changing peak, your baby’s birth.

Then the real hard work begins. Whether it’s your first baby or not, it seems you’re learning everything anew. How to get your bundle to sleep for more than twenty minutes. How to hold, bathe and dress them. How to establish a feeding routine.

Basically how to make sure this new love of your life stays alive.

Six months pass in a blur – and then you’re at the bottom of the mountain again. It’s weaning time.

Well, first things first. Ahem. Have YOU eaten? Have you slept? Had a shower recently, mmm?

Mums, pull in the troops, the husband, partner, mother, sister, friend, neighbour (read: anyone who is willing and trustworthy) and snatch back some time for yourself.

This doesn’t mean a day in a spa getting your nails painted gold before a three-course lunch and a nap (unless it’s your birthday). Grabbing small slices of time for yourself, and appreciating them when you find them, will make you less frazzled.

Pic: Shutterstock

My husband worked crazy hours after my second baby was born, and one of the things that kept me sane was getting my neighbour to come over and cuddle baby while I had a long shower, put on my make-up, and then meditated for ten minutes.*

*Important note: In the first few months, I also used this time to nap.

Yes, the baby must be fed. In that first 6 months, it’s all you think about – the next feed, has baby had enough, will they burp… but you must be fed too!

Life with babies and small children is manic, so making sure you eat is non-negotiable. My go-to is roasting a chicken on a Sunday, pulling it apart on a Monday to make a chicken pie with ready-made pastry, and using the leftover meaty bones to make a nourishing soup on the Tuesday.

Pic: Getty

Same with good old spag bol – that’s lasagne for the second day, and a tub in the freezer for emergencies.

For energy, snack on avocados, bananas, apple slices with almond butter, nuts – mums are like athletes (go us!), and, if you can, you should try to aim to eat good-quality, fresh produce. Drink water, it doesn’t matter if you are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, if you keep yourself hydrated you will feel less tired.

And move. Staying active makes you feel more energised. Weird but true. With my first baby, I stole sleep and sat down whenever I could, but after three months I felt jetlagged.

With my second, I moved. You don’t need to do hardcore exercise. Just move. Get out and walk with the baby in the pram, just around the block (Always check with your doctor before resuming exercise after pregnancy).

Meditation probably isn’t the easiest thing to do when you have a baby! Pic: Getty

The next day you might make it further. Build on that. Fresh air and walking will help you get your energy and strength back, and you’ll sleep better, even with the night feeds.Aptaclub.ie has some great tips for mums on how to take care of themselves, have a look (us mums need all the help we can get!)

It’s simple. When you feel better, you’ll be able to take care of your baby better. More importantly, you’ll be able to enjoy those first few precious months, because they fly in.

Which brings me back to weaning. There’s nothing to be intimidated about and soon you’ll be puréeing and chopping fresh fruit and vegetables like a pro. You can also include Aptamil cereals in your baby’s weaning diet.

You can also include Aptamil cereals in your baby’s weaning diet because they are specially developed to introduce delicious tastes and textures as your baby progresses through the weaning journey. Aptamil Cereals also contain nutrients such as iron, which supports normal cognitive development.

And it’s fun to watch this baby you’ve fed all those months try to grab the spoon from you like a grown-up!

Breastfeeding is best for babies. Solids should be introduced at around 6 months, and not before 17 weeks of age. Talk to your healthcare professional if you are considering introducing solids before 6 months.